CONCERNED agencies under the Duterte Administration were prodded over the weekend to ensure quick public access to health services, as well as timely delivery of entitled “risk benefits” for health care workers (HCW) deployed in the field to combat the deadly Coronavirus (Covid) contagion.
Administration Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go aired an appeal Sunday to the agencies concerned to “make sure that healthcare workers (HCWs) receive all services and benefits due them,” citing the “recent approval of additional budget to cover the payment of the fourth batch of their Covid-19 Special Risk Allowance (SRA).”
Sitting as chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Go affirmed the status of health personnel deployed to the front lines in the fight against Covid-19 as he stressed the need for the Duterte government to “waste no time in providing what is owed to doctors, nurses and qualified medical workers.”
In a statement over the weekend, the administration senator said he was persuading the government to “ensure that all the benefits and services provided by law for our health workers are given to them,” reminding that “they (health workers) are our heroes in this pandemic for continued services and sacrifices to save lives of fellow Filipinos.”
(“Sila po ang mga bayani natin ngayong pandemya dahil sa kanilang patuloy na pagseserbisyo at pagsasakripisyo para maisalba ang buhay ng ating kapwa Pilipino.”)
At the same time, Go recalled that President had earlier “approved the release of P1.185 billion” in funds charged against the 2021 Contingent Fund to cover the SRA of eligible private HCWs and non-Department of Health plantilla personnel yet to receive their SRA from December 20, 2020 to June 30, 2021.
Responding to complaints from public and private health care workers yet to receive their SRA, the Senator reminded that the president had also directed the DOH and the Department of Budget and Management “to expedite the utilization of funds for the benefit of the country’s HCWs.”
Earlier, Go had successfully pushed for the allocation of a total of P51 billion in the 2022 national budget for the compensation of Covid-19 HCWs in 2022, stressing that the Duterte government should “do everything possible to help HCWs, considering their critical role in fighting the pandemic and preserving lives.”
Moving to guarantee that their contributions and risks are adequately recognized, the administration lawmaker likewise affirmed support for extending coverage of the risk allowance to all health care workers assigned in hospitals, reminding that “given the significant number of Covid-19 cases accepted in the country’s healthcare institutions, “practically all HCWs fit the qualifications to receive the benefits under the law.”
“Lahat naman ng health workers na naka-duty ay maituturing na exposed sa banta ng Covid-19. Hindi nakikita ang kalaban na ito kung kaya’t mahirap paghiwalayin pa kung sino ang exposed at sino ang hindi,” Go said. [All health workers on duty can be considered exposed to the threat of Covid-19. This opponent is invisible so it is difficult to separate who is exposed and who is not.]
“Kaya ako umaapela na maging flexible tayo sa pag–i-implementa ng nakasaad sa batas at kung kakayanin ng pondo ay bigyan na lahat ng qualified ng fixed amount ng SRA kaysa bilangin pa natin ang kanilang pag-duty bawat araw.” [So I appeal that we be flexible in implementing what is stated in the law. And if we can afford to, to give all qualified a fixed amount of SRA rather than counting their duty per day.]
He noted that the budget for the compensation and other benefits for Covid-19 workers in health facilities in the 2022 budget will be used for payment of Covid-19 benefits for all public and private health care workers and non-health care workers, regardless of employment status, who are involved in Covid-19 response in all health facilities. The amount of Covid-19 benefits shall vary according to risk exposure of the health care worker and non-health care worker in particular settings: P3,000 for low risk; P6,000 for medium risk; and, P9,000 for high risk.
Go had earlier authored and co-sponsored Senate Bill 2421 to provide health workers with fixed monthly Covid-19 Risk Allowance for the duration of the State of Emergency in lieu of the special risk allowance and other financial compensation granted under the Bayanihan 2. He notes that under the measure, those eligible for the benefits will include all healthcare workers and other necessary personnel assigned in health facilities.
“As much as possible,” he suggested that “kung kakayanin naman ng pondo, ibigay na natin lahat ng suportang pwede nating ibigay. Hindi masusuklian ang hirap at sakripisyo nila upang makapagligtas ng buhay.” [If we can afford it, let’s give all the support we can. Their hard work and sacrifice to save lives cannot be repaid.]
The Senator has been aggressive in promoting the interests and protecting the welfare of medical frontline workers, successfully pushing for free COVID-19 testing, personal protective equipment, hazard pay and special risk allowances for health workers at the start of the outbreak.
He recalled filing as author and co-sponsor of Republic Act 11466 or the Salary Standardization Law 5 in 1019, now a law giving civilian government employees, including nurses, their fifth round of salary increases broken down in tranches.
In the same year, Go likewise pushed for enough funding for the implementation of a Supreme Court decision upholding Section 32 of the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 some 18 years after the law was enacted. The law increases the minimum salary grade of the Nurse I position to SG-15. The ruling was implemented the following year.